Chapter 211
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A voice from outside the door reached Han's ears, prompting a moment of confusion. Then came the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps drawing nearer.
Although it seemed odd for the Tsuchikage to summon him at such an unusual hour, Han didn't overthink it. Ever since Han had clashed with the Third Tsuchikage, Han's own life had grown increasingly restrictive.
While Onoki hadn't directed his anger toward Han, the oversight and control placed upon him had tightened significantly.
Creaaak!
The door groaned open as Han prepared to follow the visitor to the Tsuchikage's office. He had barely stepped forward—his left foot still hovering near the threshold—when a sudden flash of scarlet light entered his field of vision.
Before he could react, his body gave way, collapsed to the ground.
As he fell, a surge of crimson chakra erupted from his form. The energy writhed chaotically, and from its depths, scarlet bubbles began to surface, their shimmering forms swelling and bursting in eerie rhythm.
"Stay quiet," Toshiro muttered, his tone calm and unwavering. He glanced briefly at the volatile bubbles bursting sporadically from the scarlet chakra, completely unbothered. The shielding barrier he had meticulously set up ensured that no trace of chakra activity would alert the surrounding Iwa Shinobi.
---
The following morning, Han stirred awake. Disoriented, he blinked at the open doorway, his mind struggling to piece together the events of the night.
"What happened?" He mumbled groggily, his voice tinged with confusion. "Why am I lying on the ground?"
Ignoring the stiffness in his limbs, Han pushed himself upright. He instinctively took a deep breath, centering himself as his thoughts sharpened. His attention shifted inward, his focus now fixed on the sealed presence in his abdomen.
"Five-tails," Han called inwardly, his tone concerned. "Is everything alright?"
Finding that Five-tails within him was unharmed, Han couldn't shake the strange feeling about what had happened the previous night. He struggled to recall any detail, but his memory was a complete blank.
"I don't know," the Five-Tails, responded dismissively, casting a casual glance at Han before withdrawing into silence.
The great beast's tone was indifferent, and for good reason—it truly had no recollection of anything unusual occurring. From its perspective, the night had been entirely uneventful. However, it did notice a faint depletion in its chakra reserves. Yet, the amount lost was so insignificant that it dismissed the matter outright, deeming it unworthy of concern.
"You..." Han started, his voice tinged with frustration, but he trailed off.
Five-tails's lack of cooperation left him with no recourse. As much as he wanted answers, there was little he could do—challenging a tailed beast was far beyond his capabilities.
Letting out a sigh, Han exited the sealing space in his mind, returning to reality. His gaze fell on the distant Anbu, who seemed just as perplexed as he was.
"What on earth happened?" he muttered under his breath, feeling the beginnings of a headache set in.
Fortunately, the Anbu stationed in the area had remained unharmed; otherwise, the resulting commotion would have caused significant trouble for the Third Tsuchikage.
After extracting the tailed beast chakra and sealing away the memories of both Han and Five-tails, Toshiro made a swift departure from Iwagakure under the cover of night.
---
**One Month Later**
"There's truly no trace of him anywhere!"
Perched on a rocky hill in the Land of Earth, Toshiro surveyed the vast terrain, frustration etched across his face.
If his calculations were correct, Roshi must have chosen a secluded spot to live in isolation. Such reclusive individuals who remain stationary in one location are often the hardest to track down.
In a world as vast as this, trying to locate a ninja determined to stay hidden was akin to searching for a single pebble in a sprawling mountain range.
Despite spending an entire month investigating, he had uncovered no meaningful leads.
"It seems I'll have to rethink my approach if I want to find Roshi," Toshiro muttered, a new plan already beginning to form in his mind.
Alone—it always came back to that. No matter how resourceful he was, Toshiro knew he couldn't do everything by himself. He needed an ally. After some thought, the most viable options were either the Uchiha clan or the enigmatic Neko-baa.
But as his mind wandered, doubt crept in. 'Was this really how a Kage-level shinobi should operate? Had he lost sight of something essential along the way?'
Then, as if struck by a sudden revelation, his eyes brightened with realization.
"Wait a minute—how could I forget about them?"
His voice echoed faintly as he brought his right fist into his open palm with a sharp clap, the sound reverberating like a moment of clarity.
---
Far away, in a cavern cloaked in eternal dampness, the air was thick with steam, clinging to the slippery stone walls covered in moss and fungal growth. Shadows danced faintly on the walls, reflections born from water droplets rhythmically falling into shallow pools below.
Deeper within the cave, in its shadowy recesses, loomed the silhouette of a massive creature, crouched in stillness. Its presence was oppressive, the kind that could unsettle even the boldest intruder. Only the faint sound of dripping water and the quiet hum of latent power hinted at the significance of what lay hidden within.
From the texture of the wood covering its massive frame, the iron chains binding its hands, and the ten tightly sealed eyes on its face, it was unmistakably the Gedo Mazo.
"Pain, we've received a new mission request from Iwa." came the voice of Zetsu, breaking the tense silence.
Standing upon the ten extended fingers of the Golem were five spectral figures: Pain, Konan, Sasori, Orochimaru, and Zetsu.
"Excellent," Pain responded with his typical calm authority. "At this stage, securing funds for the organization is crucial. With Iwagakure as a major client, it'll greatly accelerate Akatsuki's growth."
During this period, Akatsuki had been taking on numerous missions from Iwa—espionage, political assassinations, covert sabotage—work that not only expanded their reach but also filled their coffers.
"It seems," Pain continued, his Rinnegan glinting ominously, "that the next key objective for the organization will be to recruit more members."
Scanning the room, Pain's thoughts drifted to the reliability of his current members. Sasori, recruited by Konan, could be somewhat trusted, though his loyalty lay more with his own interests. Orochimaru, on the other hand, was always scheming; his motives shrouded in ambiguity. As for Zetsu, he was entirely 'Madara''s subordinate, a wild card in the group.
"Does anyone have recommendations?" Pain's voice cut through the tension, steady yet commanding.
Trustworthiness was a secondary concern. With the Rinnegan in his possession, Pain knew any potential betrayals could be swiftly neutralized.
"Expanding our numbers!" Orochimaru repeated with a sly grin, his tongue darting across his lips. "I happen to have a suitable candidate. His strength is remarkable, though I'm not certain whether the leader can successfully persuade him to join us."
His golden eyes gleamed with intrigue as they lingered on Pain's Rinnegan. A dangerous thought began to form in Orochimaru's mind—a seed of curiosity and ambition that only he could nurture.
"If this individual joins, the organization's strength will undoubtedly rise to the next level," Orochimaru said with a hint of sly amusement.
Pain's gaze shifted toward him, cold and indifferent. "Who is it?" he asked, his tone neutral but commanding.
The room grew tense as the other members exchanged skeptical glances. The idea that Orochimaru's suggestion might carry ulterior motives lingered heavily in everyone's mind. Was this another pawn for his secret schemes?
"Uchiha Toshiro," Orochimaru finally declared, ignoring the doubtful looks cast in his direction.
Licking his lips with deliberate slowness, Orochimaru's amber eyes gleamed with mischief. Though he didn't meet Pain's gaze directly, the subtle flick of his eyes toward the Rinnegan betrayed his true focus—Pain's ultimate weapon, the tool that both intrigued and challenged his ambitions.
"He is the strongest among the current generation of the Uchiha clan, one of the most renowned clans in the ninja world," Orochimaru began, his voice laced with both admiration and intrigue. "Like the leader, he possesses legendary eyes. He has defeated the Fourth Raikage, clashed with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, and even fought against the Nine-Tails.
Orochimaru's words hung in the air, a carefully crafted tale meant to impress and persuade the others. He listed Toshiro's accomplishments one by one, emphasizing the Uchiha's unparalleled strength and reputation.
"Legendary eyes?"
The skeptical voice broke through the silence, cutting Orochimaru's speech short.
It belonged to Sasori, his crimson hair and youthful yet composed demeanor lending an air of quiet intensity. "Isn't the Uchiha known for their Sharingan? Are you suggesting there's something about their eyes we don't already know?"
Sasori's piercing gaze fixed on Orochimaru, his tone calm but probing. He clearly expected a detailed explanation, unwilling to accept vague claims without evidence.
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